Sulfonated poly(tetra phenyl ether ketone sulfone)s SPTPEKS were successfully synthesized for proton exchange membrane. Poly(tetra phenyl ether ketone sulfone)s PTPEKS were prepared by the 4,4'-dihydroxydiphenylsulfone with 1,2-bis(4-fluorobenzoyl)-3,4,5,6-tetraphenylbenzene (BFBTPB) and 4,4'-difluorodiphenylsulfone, respectively, at 210 degrees C using potassium carbonate in sulfolane. PTPEKS were followed by sulfonation using chlorosulfonic acid and concentrated sulfuric acid at two stage reactions. Different contents of sulfonated unit of SPTPEKS (17, 20, 23 mol% of BFBTPB) were studied by FT-IR, H-1 NMR spectroscopy, and thermo gravimetric analysis (TGA). Sorption experiments were conducted to observe the interaction of sulfonated polymers with water. The ion exchange capacity (IEC) and proton conductivity of SPTPEKS were evaluated with increase of degree of sulfonation. The water uptake of synthesized SPTPEKS membranes exhibit 25-61% compared with 28% of Nafion 211 (R). The SPTPEKS membranes exhibit proton conductivities (25 degrees C) of 11.7-25.3 x 10(-3) S/cm compared with 33.7 x 10(-3) S/cm of Nafion 211 (R). Copyright (C) 2011, Hydrogen Energy Publications, LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.